Erik is 23 years old and works as a purchasing clerk in a production company in the industrial sector in Neuchâtel. In his purchasing role, he is responsible for ensuring optimal purchasing in the procurement process. His good communication skills and negotiation skills help him in supplier discussions and complaints. He helps with the preparation of supplier evaluations, preparations for supplier visits and negotiations. Erik would like to develop into a purchasing specialist. He can deepen his knowledge of procurement, supplier management, supply chain management and contract law with continuing education, further training as a purchasing specialist. After completing his Federal Professional Examination, Erik will be able to take over the management of procurement and make an important contribution to the competitiveness of the industrial company. Thanks to his federal certificate as a purchasing specialist, he can take responsibility for procurement strategies, requirements planning, negotiations, order placement and order monitoring. He also prepares cost calculations, supplier assessments and cost change assessments. Thanks to his recognized qualification as a purchasing specialist, Erik has gained a management position, changed his job opportunities and gained various further development opportunities in purchasing.

Financial benefits of continuing education, further training as a purchasing specialist

As a purchasing specialist, Erik will receive CHF 1,087 more per month than before and will therefore have at least CHF 526,000 more at his disposal by the time he retires than if he had not done any continuing education, further training.

As this theoretical calculation does not take into account any further salary increases, promotions or interest on savings, the salary can still increase significantly.

Calculation in detail

Continuing education, further training FPE purchasing specialist:

• 12 months, part-time
• School fees, teaching materials: CHF 12,800 minus CHF 6,000 federal contribution = CHF 6,800
• Examination fee: CHF 2'400
• Total training costs: CHF 9'200

Wage difference and yield calculation:

• Difference in salary between the position of Purchasing Clerk and the position of Purchasing Specialist: CHF 6,551 - CHF 5,464 = CHF 1,087 per month and CHF 13,044 per year (12 x CHF 1,087 = CHF 13,044)
• He recoups the entire training costs of CHF 9,400 in a good 8 months with the higher salary as a purchasing specialist (CHF 9,200 / CHF 1,087 per month = 8.5 months)
• Over the remaining 41 years until his retirement (24 to 65), this additional income will add up to CHF 534,804 (41 x CHF 13,044 = CHF 534,804)
• If the training costs are deducted from this additional income, an additional sum of around CHF 526,000 remains at his disposal(CHF 534'804 - CHF 9'200 = CHF 525'604)

Sources:

• The training costs correspond to an average of the training courses offered for purchasing specialists (FPE) in German-speaking Switzerland.
• Wages were calculated in the federal wage calculator www.salarium.ch with the following settings:
• Calculations as import clerkbefore the Federal Professional Examination:
  • Region: Espace Mittelland
  • Industry sector: 25 Manufacture of fabricated metal products
  • Occupational group: 33 Non-academic business administration and commercial specialists
  • Position in the company: Level 5 without management function
  • Hours per week: 42 hours
  • Education: Completed vocational training
  • Age: 23 years
  • Years of service: not specified
  • Company size: 20 - 49 employees
  • 12/13 monthly salary: 13 monthly salary (converted pro rata to 12 salaries)
  • Special payments: no
  • Monthly / hourly wage: Monthly wage
  • Result:Central value (median) ofCHF 5'464
• Calculationsafter the Federal Professional Examination for Purchasing Specialists (FPE):
  • Region: Espace Mittelland
  • Industry sector: 25 Manufacture of fabricated metal products
  • Occupational group: 33 Non-academic business administration and commercial specialists
  • Position in the company: Level 3+4 Lower management
  • Hours per week: 42 hours
  • Education: Higher vocational training, College of Higher Education
  • Age: 24 years
  • Years of service: not specified
  • Company size: 20 - 49 employees
  • 12/13 monthly salary: 13 monthly salary (converted pro rata to 12 salaries)
  • Special payments: no
  • Monthly / hourly wage: Monthly wage
  • Result:Central value (median) ofCHF 6'551

(All figures as at November 2022)

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